The Pros And Cons Of Twelve Remote Work Office Environments

Kavi Guppta
, ContributorI write about technology and how it impacts workforce transformation.Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Image credit: Kavi Guppta

The flexibility afforded to remote workers comes with its share of challenges. One of those challenges is finding a good place to concentrate and get work done.

Much of the glamour seen in remote work or digital nomad Tweets, Facebook updates or Instagram posts fades away quickly when it comes down to the daily grind of securing a place to work. Just because you can choose where you work doesn’t mean you avoid the fatigue that comes with being in one location for too long.

There are also a multitude of positive and negative variables that can influence your working environment: time of day; noise level; seating placement and table space; length of allowed stay; and of course the strength of your venue’s Wifi to name just a few.

Let’s take a look at twelve common workspaces frequented by remote workers to assess the pros and cons. If you’re an aspiring remote worker, here’s what you can expect from each location:

Home office

If you’re lucky enough to have space for a dedicated home office then that’s a great start. A home office can be as elaborate or as minimal as you like, and it can cater to your specific needs. But being stuck inside the house all day can easily lead to cabin fever. Long stretches of work might mean that you never get outside. More importantly, it’s easy to forget about rest when both your work and home life are blended into the same space.

Couch or dining table

For those without the luxury of a home office, the most common place to work is on the couch or at the dinner table. Like the home office, you have the freedom to lay out and get comfortable, or dive right into tasks after waking up. It’s easy to fall down on good posture when you’re slinked down low on the couch tapping away, or hunched over the laptop at the table. A couch or table office can mean tons of clutter in the same space that you relax and entertain. Remembering to keep the space tidy will be important especially if you’re sharing it with a partner. Another similarity to the home office is how much time you make for rest and getting outside.

Airports

For those who travel constantly, an airport lounge or gate is a no-brainer choice to get some work in before a flight. If you have access to an airport lounge, then you may find a comfortable space with decent Wifi to hunker down. You’ll also have access to beverages and snacks, and only have to leave when your flight is about to depart. If you’re not fortunate enough to enjoy lounge access, then you’re stuck at the mercy of free airport Wifi that is often metered. Add to that the lack of wall outlets (though most prominent airports in Asia, Europe, and North America are improving this) and comfortable seating space can mean having to go on a prolonged hunt for an ideal spot. You may end up working on the floor during busy arrival and departure times.

Hotels or hostels

The venue you select as accommodation can be conducive to a good working environment. If your budget allows it, you might choose to take a spacious room with good views and a desk. For the budget strapped you might have to make do with a basic room and plug away on the bed. Wifi can be mixed. Most prominent spaces will offer decent connectivity, but cheaper accommodation might make you pay for limited, metered access. For those of you in hostels, you’ll be sharing Wifi that may get cut off based on excessive streaming by patrons. You might also be stuck working around noisy backpackers or young travelers who are enjoying the space to socialize and party.

Head office

It’s important to take advantage of a regional head office if your organization has them. You can connect with colleagues and teams who may not be as remote as you, and it’s a great chance to collaborate on tasks that may be difficult to complete virtually. The difference in working styles of habits can be a downside to popping into the local office. Your office colleagues may be use to a structure that includes specific working hours or processes. Your flexibility could hinder that process. Always be mindful that you are a guest in this environment. Be open to how your colleagues work.

Cafes

The cafe is arguably the most common outside workspace for remote workers. You can enjoy the buzz and atmosphere of a dynamic environment; enjoy some good food and drinks; and even enjoy “regular” status with staff members. The cafe is also a loud space shared by many patrons and can quickly become a costly venue when you factor in how much is being spent on coffee or menu items. Your length of stay can depend on how much you consume from the menu or to make space for new customers. During peak hours it may be hard to find a good spot to sit. Many cafes are taking away free Wifi access to deter customers from overstaying their welcome--it’s common to see a person buy one cup of coffee and stick around for four or five hours. Wall outlets can be hard to come by, and there’s a lack of privacy or quiet space if you need to make conference calls.

Co-working spaces

A good co-working space in a major city centre offers quite a range of services for the individual remote worker or team. Weekly, monthly and annual fees means access to a desk, Wifi, hang out space and the opportunity to connect with interesting people. The downside is that most co-working spaces cater primarily to the tech startup scene, and the mixture of people may not be relevant to the work you do. The membership fees might be a costly expense if you’re just starting out or aren’t sure if you’ll use the space frequently enough. You might be better off saving the money and using it on another type of working space. If you’re interested in just socializing, then you can forego the fees altogether and simply attend specific meetups or events that are either free or require a small ticket purchase.

Libraries

Libraries, if your destination has a few, are a great cost-effective place to work. Wifi can mostly be accessed without membership, and open plan desk spaces or private study rooms offer a mixture of working options. You can expect a very quiet environment for getting things done. The cons to a library environment are rules against bringing in food or beverages, so heading out to grab a bite to eat might mean losing your coveted spot to a student or another patron. Wifi, though free, may be metered as well as firewalled which could prevent access to key sites that are deemed suspicious by the library network. Lastly, the quiet space can make it difficult to hold conference calls or video chats.

Shopping malls

Asia and India in particular offer Wifi and seating inside shopping malls for remote workers. If the mall has free Wifi, you can generally plunk down in a food court or general seating area to get work done. Bangkok in particular has a string of shopping malls along the main Sukhumvit railway line. Remote workers can hop from mall to mall to enjoy different public spaces with air conditioning and various food and beverage options. The problem will be finding space in a venue that is heavy in pedestrian traffic at all times of the day, and being able to hang out long enough in a mall without being accused of loitering.

Restaurants or bars

Restaurants or bars are a mixed bag when it comes to finding a place to work. Most restaurants won’t offer Wifi at all, and aim to limit seating times based on how many tables the establishment hopes to turn over. These are decent spaces for quick regroups or meetings, but lack the amenities or comfort to do a few hours worth of work.

Beaches

Let’s be honest: physically working on a beach is not as glamorous as it looks. Sure, you can probably find a cafe or venue around the beach which offers Wifi and seating space, but being right there in the sand is uncomfortable and limiting. You have to bring your own seating. There are no wall outlets if you need a boost of electricity. And sand gets everywhere. Besides, who really wants to work on a beach when you could be enjoying the landscape and water in front of you? Some places just aren’t meant to be tarnished by your to-dos.

I’m writing a book about digital nomads and remote work. Interested? Get in touch with me here: @kaviguppta.